World’s biggest wind farm given go-ahead off Britain
Phys.org, February 4, 2016. Image credit: music4life
Offshore wind developer Dong Energy said Wednesday a final decision had been made to construct the 1.2 gigawatt Hornsea Project One scheme off the coast of Yorkshire in northern England.
Scheduled for completion by 2020, the giant development would span 160 square miles (407 square kilometres) and use 174 wind turbines, each one 190 metres tall—higher than London’s landmark “Gherkin” tower.
Wind energy has grown rapidly in Britain in the past decade, helped by strong winds and suitable geography, now producing 10 percent of Britain’s energy needs, according to trade group RenewableUK.
The industry body said that the development would help Britain to meet pledges to limit greenhouse gas emissions made at the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) in Paris last year.
“This offshore wind farm will play an important part in meeting our Paris climate commitments, but will also help create the new energy infrastructure this country desperately needs,” said RenewableUK deputy chief executive Maf Smith.
The construction of Hornsea Project One will provide 2,000 jobs, and it will employ 300 people once the scheme is finished, according to Dong Energy.